Islamic State Car Bomb Kills Iraqi Pilgrims

At least 18 Shia Muslim pilgrims have been killed by a car bomb in Baghdad.

The pilgrims were commemorating the anniversary of the death of an eight century imam when the vehicle detonated.

A police officer said 45 people were also wounded when the car, which was parked in the Saydiyah neighbourhood, blew up after midday.

Shortly after the explosion, Islamic State, which sees Shia Muslims as apostates, claimed it was behind the bombing.

Iraqi officials denied the group's claim that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.

Tens of thousands of Shia Muslims have been making their way to the northern Baghdad neighbourhood of Kadhimiyah, where Imam Moussa al-Kadhim is buried.

Security forces have blocked major roads in anticipation of attacks against pilgrims who traditionally travel on foot from different parts of Iraq.

On Saturday, Islamic State claimed responsibility for two car bombs in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah which killed at least 31 people and wounded 52.

According to a report by IHS Janes, Islamist militants are increasing their attacks in Iraq and Syria , in an attempt to distract from a number of territorial defeats.

The defence think tank says there were 891 attacks and 2,150 "non-militant" fatalities recorded in the first three months of this year.

Those figures represent an increase of 16.7% and 43.9% respectively on the last quarter of 2015.

Islamic State still controls significant stretches of territory in Iraq's north and west, including the country's second largest city of Mosul, estimated to still be home to more than one million civilians.